Pages

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

After keeping your plants indoors all winter long, you may find more life than only your plant. If you find that little pests or bugs are living in your houseplant, it can be a bit alarming, but not a hard thing to fix. Here are a few common houseplant pests and how Camdenton Farm and Garden can help!

Spider Mites

You’ll be able to find these pests if you notice the telltale webbing on your plants. You’ll likely find it on the inner joints of plants and among the types of lush foliage.

These tiny pests are about the size of a pinhead and can damage your plants by sucking their juices. If your plants get attacked, you’ll notice yellow stippling on the leaves. If the infestation isn't treated, the leaves will turn yellow and brittle. You can treat your plants with an insecticide, like what we have at our farm and garden store at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Mealybugs

These pests will show themselves as small, cottony white blobs on the stem joints. You may also find them along the stems. They feed off of the plants by sucking the life right out of them. You’ll notice that your plants look like they are drying out no matter how often you water, this can be a sign of mealy bugs.

Mealybugs can be challenging to get rid of, but if you catch the problem early, you can cut out the infested branches. You can also dab the mealy bugs with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol. If you find a bad case of mealy bugs, you may want to get rid of the plant. This can help save the rest of your plants from getting infected.

Scales

These little pests are akin to the Mealybugs because they suck the sap from the plants. This will leave them too weak to sustain themselves. The difference is that they cover themselves with a hard, oval shell when they attach to the plant. They can be very challenging to remove once they’ve attached themselves.

Often, pesticides don’t penetrate their hard shells. You may be able to scrap them off with your fingernail. If the scales are young, you can treat with insecticidal products. But this is only when they are unprotected and moving to a new location.

Aphids

Aphids are small green, white, yellow, or black spots that can surface on all parts of a plant. Aphids reproduce quickly, and an infestation can cover the plant in days. They are soft-bodied insects, though, and can be killed with a strong blast of water or an insecticide. They can be persistent, so if you want to get rid of them, you'll need to be diligent.

This is the safest and most diverse product on the market. It contains pyrethrins, which are an organic insecticide that is safe to use up to the day of harvest. It also contains fungicidal agent and miticide. It’s ready to use or in concentrate, and a MUST for any gardener - indoors or out! We have plenty of insecticides at the Lake of the Ozarks! We can help you find something to rid you of bugs, while also keeping your plant thriving. Come out and see us sometime!

Monday, February 19, 2018

We may be on the back end of winter, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a few cold days left ahead. After all, that groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter! Your backyard birds will still be looking for food, water, and shelter as they finish out these last few bouts of winter, and there are a few things you can do to help them out. Here are a few tips to help increase bird traffic to your backyard, but also help these little-feathered friends as they are finishing out the winter.

Food

If you have bird feeders, it’s important to keep them filled during these last few weeks of winter. Your birds will be looking for foods that are high in oil and fat. At Camdenton Farm and Garden, we have a wide variety of bird food at the Lake of the Ozarks, including suet, peanuts, sunflower seeds, Nyjer, and our own special blend called Jim’s Mix. These are all great choices for the birds as the winter months come to an end. They will give them the necessary energy they need to get ready for spring! If you don’t have a bird feeder, now is a great time to get one. Not only can you finish out the winter with it, but you can continue to feed your feathered friends through the spring and enjoy watching them play outside. We have a wide variety of bird feeders at the Lake of the Ozarks, so stop by sometime and we can help you choose the best one for your lifestyle and bird types.

Water

Water is still vitally important to birds, especially fresh water. If you think that the cold temps will keep it frozen, you can invest in a heater for your birdbath. Otherwise, the biggest importance is just keeping fresh water available. Make sure that you replace the water regularly to avoid spreading disease, and keep it filled enough that your heather doesn’t malfunction.

As always, we have a beautiful stock of birdbaths, so if you are interested in adding one to your garden, come take a look! You’ll love having this through spring as well. The birds will start coming back from their winter vacations and can be a joy to watch as they splash around.

Shelter

A cozy place to keep warm is valuable for birds that are finishing out the winter. Not to mention, as spring comes around, they will need a place to make their nests. Put out some birdhouses now to provide for them in both seasons! If you aren’t sure what type of bird house you’ll need, take a look at the birds that you have flocking to your yard. Then come out to our farm and garden store at the Lake of the Ozarks. We can help you determine the best type of birdhouse for your little-feathered friends.

If you care about feeding those feathered friends, we have everything to get you started! Many articles will say that there is the “perfect” time to put out the feeder, birdbath or birdhouse, and while some times are better than others for certain breeds - we believe the most important thing is putting them out! Stop by sometime and we’ll get you all stocked up to care for those little birds during the last few weeks of winter, and the coming of spring!

Friday, February 16, 2018

Spring is right around the corner, and Mother Nature keeps tempting us with the spring temps (right before throwing Old Man Winter at us again). With random beautiful days coming up, we can’t help but think about how to prepare our landscapes for the upcoming change of season! Before you know it, the deer will be looking for your prize plants to eat (if they aren’t already), and your landscape will need to be fertilized to prepare for all of the growth that is happening! Here are a few products that we HIGHLY recommend that you add to your spring preparation list, so you’ll have them when you’re ready.

We truly believe that there is no better product on the market than Liquid Fence. We aren’t the only ones who say this, our customers also agree - or at least they must by the way they keep coming back over and over to buy this product! It truly works as advertised, and if you are trying to deter deer from eating your tulips and hostas, you’ll want to apply this when they first come up in the spring. After that, you’ll apply it every two weeks or so, depending on the amount of precipitation.

Applying fertilizers can be an important way to keep your landscape looking beautiful, and we have products that you WON’T find in the box stores. We have very specifically chosen products that are high quality and work well, not to mention they are the products that we use on our own lawn. We have all used these products for years and believe in them because they have worked. I have also created a schedule that can be used to apply the Fertilome products to your lawn - and the first application is coming up! I always recommend that you start these products around Easter and this year that falls on April 1st. You still have some time to prepare, but it’s a good idea to start thinking about what you want to use and what you should stock up on for your landscape fertilizer at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Herbicides are classified as pre-emergent (used to keep weed seeds from germinating) and post-emergent (kills weeds after they have become established). At Camdenton Farm and Garden, we carry both types of weed killers, and we have the knowledge to assist you as to what product would be best for your type of landscape and weed situation. We love the Hi-Yield and Ferti-lome products because they are incredibly successful, we’re sure that you’ll love them just as much as we do once you try them.

Did you know that fungicides are a vital element in the gardener’s armamentarium in the Ozarks? The summers here can be very hot and humid, which is an ideal environment for fungal diseases. Roses are also particularly susceptible to black spot and the like. Thankfully, we have environmentally safe fungicides at the Lake of the Ozark. From Copper Soap to wettable sulfur, as well as systemic fungicides, you’ll find a large variety in our garden store at the Lake of the Ozarks.

From your lawn to your vegetable garden, and your fruit trees to ornamental shrubs, we have a large variety of organic insecticides at the Lake of the Ozarks. They can be used right up to the day of harvest. We also carry popular and effective tick and flea protection for your critters. We’re your one-stop shop!

Keeping a beautiful lawn and garden has never been easier when you have a team of experts to help you find the right products. From insecticides to fertilizers, we can help you prepare for spring at the Lake of the Ozarks with all of the products that you’ll be looking for. Let’s start creating that landscape that will be the envy of all of your neighbors ;).

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Native plants may not get a lot of credit, especially when compared with the "hot" plant of the year. However, there are plenty of reasons to include native plants into your garden. If you aren't familiar with native plants or why they can provide benefit to your outdoor space, we have a few reasons for you to ponder over!

What is a Native Plant?

A native plant is one that evolved in your area. This means that is hardy enough to handle your winters and summer seasons, stable enough to withstand disease, and has natural predators in your area so that it doesn't become overpopulated. Missouri native plants can be both beautiful and practical, and they require fewer materials because they are, well, native. The most interesting thing about native plants is that they can change a lot between states and even counties. In addition, just because a type of tree grows well in two states, doesn't mean that those varieties can be interchanged between states because they develop different immunities and attributions to temperature and climate. It's an intriguing thought, isn't it!

Reasons to Incorporate Native Plants

If you've thought about planting native varieties in your garden, here are a few reasons that you'll really appreciate having native species in your space.

They Require Fewer Resources
Because native plants are naturally ready to adapt to the place that they came from, they tend to require not only fewer resources but less work. A native plant naturally adapts to the soil, weather conditions, natural predators, and more. Because of this, you shouldn't have to invest as much in soil additions, balancing the ph, and more. In addition, since they are well suited for the area, they are going to require less time to tend because they just work well in your space. This doesn't mean they will require no work at all. You may have to harvest them, prune them occasionally, or even weed them out - but you will find that they don't require nearly as much work as a plant that is native to say the Pacific after being brought to the Midwest.

They Don't Overgrow Your Area
We've all heard about the plants that completely overgrow an area. They aren't native to a place, and before you know it, it's taken over. One of the biggest reasons is because there are no natural predators for this plant. Maybe there aren't animals to eat it or birds that use it for their nests. When you plant native plants, you are helping the environment, the creatures that live in it, and helping to preserve the natural element of your area.

What is Native to my Area?
There are several ways to find out. One of the easiest is to contact your local conservation department, or visit their website. Here in Missouri, we have many native plants that are both beautiful and practical, so we've researched a few to suggest for your summer gardening space.

Black Oak

Black-eyed susan

Blackberry

Coral Honeysuckle

Cream Wild Indigo

Eastern Blazing Star

Eastern Redbud

Elderberry

Glade Coneflower

Indian Paintbrush

There are hundreds of plants and trees that are native to our area, and they are all unique and beautiful. If you want to learn more, you can visit the Grow Native database for a list of plants that are native to Missouri.

Even amidst the snowy and cold weather, it's hard to not be thinking about the garden. Because of this, we are your one-stop shop for planning! Our in-house plant doctor has plenty of ideas for you, from wilting indoor plants to planning out your garden in the spring. If you are already getting excited about the gardening season at the Lake of the Ozarks, we are right there with you! From native plants to unique and beautiful exotic options, we know that this year will be a great one for your garden. Stay tuned for more tips to get you through the winter and how to prepare for Spring. It's coming, folks!

Friday, February 2, 2018

In case you missed the update, February 2nd, 2018 was the day that Puxatawny Phil saw his shadow, which means that everyone is predicting another SIX weeks of winter! While this is a bit of a downer for us gardeners who just want spring to hit, there is good news. Winter sowing and gardening is a long time tradition, and also a great way to get your garden started even if there were 12 feet of snow outside. Here are a few tips to help you get started on your winter gardening plans.

What Is Winter Gardening & Sowing

Did you ever think that you could actually sow seeds outdoors during the winter? Even amidst snow, sub-zero temps, and other winter blues, winter sowing can be too good to be true. However, it’s a great way to let mother nature take her course, and also to encourage hearty plants. You can sow them directly into the ground, or you can give them a give of a helping hand by starting them in enclosed containers to get the ball rolling a little faster.

Getting Started

You’ll want to choose hardy seeds, and stay clear of the tropical and tender plants. A few good choices are

Alyssum

Butterfly Weed

Calendula

Coreopsis

Cosmos

Foxgloves

Hollyhocks

Petunias

Beets

Broccoli

Cabbage

Chard

Carrots

Mache

Radishes

Spinach

You can sow your seeds directly into the ground, or you can start them in containers which are then transplanted later. Direct sowing will not give you a head start the way that sowing in containers will because the soil in the ground will not warm up as fast as the soil in the containers. Yet, it will save you the trouble of transplanting.

When looking for containers, make sure you look for something that can handle the freezing and thawing that is caused by winter weather. You’ll also want to make sure that there are drainage holes int eh bottom of the containers and are vents in the top covering. The vents should be small to start with, and then widen them as the weather warms in the spring.

You’ll want to start with at least 2-3 inches of potting mix, maybe even 3-5 inches. It helps insulate the seeds and prevents them from being heaved to the surface.

Start Planting

Now that you’re containers are ready, you’ll want to start by sowing more seeds than you think you’ll need. Germination rates will be lower than if grown in ideal conditions. When sowing, though, don’t sow too thickly. The seedlings could crowd each other out when they do begin to grow.

Don’t forget to label your containers somehow, either. No matter what you think, comes spring you’ll be looking at the tray of green seedling wondering what in the world they are.

What’s With Winter Sowing?

This relies on cycles of freezing and thawing to loosen seed coats and prepare seeds to germinate. In fact, some seeds may even say to put them in the freezer before sowing them. When spring first arrives with sunny days but still freezing nights, you should start to see seedlings coming up. When you do find days that are above freezing, open the containers and check the soil dryness. Water them if they need it by using a gentle spray bottle and then put the lids back on.

If you need some tips for winter sowing at the Lake of the Ozarks, we would love to share our experiences. Our in-house Plant Doctor has decades of experience planting and growing many varieties and types. If you need gardening supplies at the Lake of the Ozarks, we’ve got you covered. From small to large tools, you’ll find everything you need to get your garden off to the right start at Camdenton Farm and Garden. Come out and see us, and don’t forget to share your gardening stories with us!